Thursday, September 20, 2012

A pre-holiday blog about self-publishing

A pre-holiday blog about self-publishing.
I am sure you have all heard and often spoken those hallowed words, ‘If I knew then what I know now.’ Isn’t it easy to look backwards and wonder at what could have been? I think that one should stop knocking oneself and take into account that knowledge and just move on. That is what I have decided to do, re the world of ‘self-publishing.’
I feel very different now as the holidays approach. I am ready to get out there and promote my books, even if it puts a few people off. I have learnt that if I don’t do this, nothing will happen and the huge amounts of money I have ‘invested’ will be as ‘slurry down the dunny.’ (That’s for my Kiwi and Aussie readers!).
Earlier this year I was almost ready to give up, when all my efforts were ‘heading south.’ It felt like everything had been for nothing. My previous publisher was in dire straits and my books were accompanying her to wherever that place she was heading. I had no idea how many books I had sold and it was only more confusing when I noticed that some of my books were in various libraries. Damned if I was the recipient of any largess, despite my requests for information about sales. That may help to explain my less than sympathetic  utterings about my former publsiher.
To top it off, I paid all my bills to what was essentially a non-existent company----dumb eh? It was then that I decided to ‘go out on my own.’ There was a big risk in doing that. I do not have the contacts and expertise to get my books ‘out there.’ I was going to need to dig deep and expunge any vestiges of meekness and shyness that I had ever possessed. That could well mean pissing off a few people and endangering a few relationships.  I steeled myself for rejection emails and ‘please take me off your list’ replies.
First issue: I needed to get my two books at the time, ‘Coastal Yarns’ and ‘Roskill’ reissued with new ISBN numbers and possibly new covers. I found out that it was possibly not a good move to keep the same covers. That was a pity, because I liked both covers. I have no beef with the ex-publisher on issues of artistic merit.
Secondly, I had to get new PDF files in order for the printer to go ahead and re-publish the books. I decided to have them re-edited as well. I know my first two books had many mistakes and typos in them. I ‘never’ see these when I am looking, but they pop-out when I am simply reading them. Of course lots of friends were more than happy to point them out (bless them).  I hate it when I read a library book and some twat with a complex has gone through and underlined the mistakes, so I guess even the so-called professionals make mistakes.
I applied for new ISBN numbers. These are important in that they separate my book from the first prints and the previous publisher. Now, anyone making enquiries can be put in touch with me directly. Hell, I think that’s what it all means! I also re-established a relationship with my printer and arranged to deal with them directly. The savings there are big. I don’t get charged for all of these obscure add-ons, but it also means that I have to develop networks of my own. That has taken time.
I found people to edit and proofread the new files. It seems that no matter how many times I do this I can still find the odd mistake in the finished product. The new covers were easy enough and I was even able to use a picture I took on an old phone for the cover for ‘Talk To Me,’ my latest book. This too all costs money. The old balance sheet was and is looking pretty sad, but what else can I do---stop now?  Don’t think so.
Finally, I had to do something about my website. The old one was defunct, stuffed, call it what you will. A friend put me on to a couple who have turned up trumps. Alexandra and Derek designed the website and also re-edited Coastal Yarns. Derek came up with an amazing picture for the front cover of the re-issued ‘Coastal Yarns.’ No cheap camera this time.
I have received the new copies of ‘Roskill’ and ‘Talk To Me,’ and next week the new edition of ‘Coastal Yarns’ will join them. Now it is over to me to get them out there.
If you are interested in my books, just buy them through the website or contact me direct—also through the website. Maybe you do not want to buy them, but would like to read them. That’s easy enough in NZ. Just go to the website for your local library or visit them and ask them if they have the books in stock. They won’t have the new editions, so they will need to buy them through my website. You only need the title and author name. If you have the ISBN numbers that’s good too---- that is available on my website. They get the books---I win, you win---simple.   www.authorneilcoleman.com
Look out for ‘SONS OF ORPHEUS,’ an historical novel split into three books, based on the sinking of the Orpheus, NZ’s worst ever maritime disaster. It tells the story of three fictional characters but is based around my perception of real events in NZ and Australian history.
Thanks so much for your support, past and future.
Neil 21.9.12

"Talk To Me,' my latest book is now live on my site.

I now have two of my books available on my website   www.authorneilcoleman.com    All I need now is for you to buy them, using PayPal on my site. My books have been issued with new ISBN numbers and covers, because I was not sure I could use the images when my last publisher was deregistered.
Now, I am in control of the whole process and it should go smoothly from now on. Many thanks to the team that support me.
1)    My editors---Maree Pavletich and Alec Allinson
2)    My website and cover  designer---Derek Allinson
3)    My printer-----The Colour Guy (especially to Karleen who patiently handles my endless questions about what should be simple to understand instructions!)
Thanks to my family and friends who buy my books when they should get them free.
If you don’t want to buy my books, just go into your library and request them. That way, you get them free, and I get a small amount from the sales. All you need is the name of the books and my name.
Books by Neil Coleman:
Coastal Yarns (The new version will be out next week 26th September)
Roskill
Talk To Me

Next project-----Sons Of Orpheus.
Check out the website to see what’s coming up and for a link to ‘friendly’ websites and to my blogs.


The weekend--- love it but for some these days, it hardly exists

There was once time when the weekend in NZ was a time when one could relax; that is if you didn’t include family chores and various other responsibilities, but that was, that it was time away from work.
Sadly, things have changed for many people, probably not just in NZ. Gone for many are the sleep-ins, leisurely breakfasts, picnics and BBQs at the beach, reading a book (no Kindles then), watching your kids playing rugby, visiting your favourite Aunt (because she did all of her own baking), talking to your neighbour over the back fence (do you even know your neighbour’s name?), going shopping before the shops closed for the weekend at mid-day, sending the kids off to the matinee at the cinema (knowing that they were quite safe to go alone), cooking the Sunday roast (the leftovers would go into a curry the next day) and finally, once the lawns were mowed, you could actually do—well--- NOTHING.
Now, the chances of a family being together, (I don’t mean the marriage---that’s another issue) for the weekend are greatly diminished. At least one partner will be working; even teenage kids may have a job. Some families will of course be together, because neither parent has a job. For them, it may feel like a sentence, because they will have little in the way of ‘discretionary’ spending.
For others, it maybe that working in the weekend is a requirement, in order for the company they work for to keep a hold on the niche they have managed to find in the larger world they now do business with.
It is not a ‘Brave New World;’ it is more a Cruel new economic-driven reality world.’ We have changed because we have had to and we have lost much as a result.
For me, I can hardly remember when my partner last had a clear weekend off. What’s next-----schools joining the move for a seven day week?
Thanks for reading the musings of a sentimental guy trying to remember what he thinks the world used to be like.